SAN Beda Red University squeaked past the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta, 63-62, to take its second consecutive win in the NCAA 100 men’s basketball tournament at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City on Saturday.
The Red Lions held their biggest lead in the fourth quarter, 60-49, courtesy of Jomel Puno and Penny Estacio’s buckets.
But the Altas showed grit and pulled a 6-0 rally as Christian Pagaran, Shawn Orgo and Cedrick Abis made two-pointers to trim the Red Lions’ lead to 60-55.
Bryan Sajonia was fouled and split his charities before Jearico Nunez and Jomel Puno traded blows, 63-59.
The Altas showed a beautiful ball rotation that allowed Abis to drain a triple, sending the match to a one-point game with one minute and 41 seconds remaining.
Both teams struggled to score a field goal as San Beda Yukien Andrada and Altas’ Mark Gojo Cruz missed their chance to make the game-winning triple.
With 19.7 seconds in the clock and the ball possession returned to San Beda’s side, Altas Shawn Orgo made a steal on Emman Tagle that gave Perpetual a chance to score.
However, JP Borral went for a trey and made a sorry miss, allowing the Red Lions to escape.
Puno led the scoring for San Beda with 16 points and eight rebounds, while team captain Andrada added 11 markers.
Abis chipped in 14 points for the Altas, while Orgo scored 10.
The Red Lions improved to a 5-3 win-loss card, while Altas fell to a 4-5 slate.
